Autistic San Jose teen found

Police are looking for Jesus Garza, 13, who disappeared from his San Jose bedroom around midnight on Monday. (Bay City News)

July 11, 2011 11:08:30 PM PDT

SAN JOSE, Calif. --

A 13-year-old San Jose boy who has autism and went missing Monday morning was located by Los Angeles police Monday afternoon after the boy arrived at a Greyhound bus station, police said.

Jesus Garza went to bed at his home in the 300 block of North Eighth Street around 12:30 a.m. Monday, but when his parents checked on him at about 6:30 a.m., he wasn't there, police said.

Jesus is autistic and has the mental capacity of a 6- or 7-year-old, according to police.

Investigators learned that the boy had expressed interest in traveling to Hollywood in hopes of meeting television celebrities. When investigators contacted Greyhounds employees in San Jose, they learned that Jesus had purchased a ticket and boarded a bus bound for Southern California.

Greyhound employees identified the bus in which Jesus was traveling and informed investigators that it would arrive at the San Fernando Valley bus station.

Los Angeles police were notified and dispatched officers to the station, where Jesus was taken into protective custody upon his arrival at about 4:30 p.m.

Jesus does not have a history of running away.

He attended Peter Burnett Middle School and is scheduled to attend Leland High School in the fall. He is currently taking summer school classes at Horace Mann Elementary School.

San Jose police investigators were traveling to Southern California to pick up Jesus, but the case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about Jesus and his disappearance is asked to San Jose police detectives Alfonso Rodriguez or Ryan Hansen of the missing persons unit at (408) 277-4786.

Anonymous tipsters may call the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP (7867) or may visit svcrimestoppers.org, and may be eligible for a reward.